NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – As the old sports adage goes, his team’s record isn’t what he’d hoped for. For the first time since taking over as manager of the Norfolk Tides, Ron Johnson will have a losing record.

A 9-6 win over the Durham Bulls on Sunday gave the Tides a 65-78 record with still one game to play. Even though the Tides did not win this season (aside from being the second-best team in all of minor league baseball through the month of July), their organization is winning. Big time.

The Baltimore Orioles have a nine-game lead in the AL East, and though they haven’t officially wrapped up the division just yet, they’ll soon pop the champagne as AL East champions.

Johnson feels his staff had a little something to do with that.

“I’m proud of the job I’ve done, and I know that sounds bad, but what I really mean is my staff,” said Johnson, “Those guys are putting in the hours here, and they have worked with people and constantly never got tired of getting guys better.”